The Illinois House of Representatives voted by 114 to one to start the impeachment process, clearing the way for a trial next week in the state Senate which could result in his removal from office.

"It's our duty to clean up the mess and stop the freak show that's become Illinois government," said Jack Franks, one of the Democrats who voted for impeachment. Although Chicago in particular, and Illinois in general, is well-used to political scandal, the arrest of Blagojevich by the FBI last month created a level of embarrassment that even hardened lawmakers could not live with.

Some lawmakers had expressed hope that, faced with impeachment, he might leave voluntarily, but a spokesman for Blagojevich insisted he would not resign. He has denied all the allegations, which include corruption and abuse of power.

At the end of the state senate impeachment process, a vote of two-thirds of members will be enough to remove him from office. One of the lawmakers, Barbara Currie, a Chicago Democrat who headed a panel investigating Blagojevich, yesterday described him as "a public servant who has chosen not to serve the public ... who has betrayed his oath of office ... who is not fit to govern".

Milt Patterson, a Democrat, also from Chicago, was the one dissenting vote, saying he did not feel it was his job to impeach the governor.

Blagojevich, who had been under investigation by the FBI for some time and had been subjected to a wiretap, was arrested on December 9 on charges of fraud and soliciting bribes.